Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

The total is the same as doing it all as separate bookings?

Yes, that's how a multicity prices.

 

[robcuk]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Just cancelled my flight from MAD to SYD with TG on the 29.12 over the phone. I was cut off a few times and there system was down another time but eventually after 59 minutes inc 28 on hold at the start of the phone call the flights were cancelled. Cost $100 ($50 each) and the rep was great, very polite and explained the process throughout the phone call.

I originally wanted to change my itinerary from MAD - SYD to CDG - SYD but was told all I could change was the date not the actual route, so we cancelled - the rep said the miles and cash should be re credited within 3-5 days.

Fingers crossed the flights I have my eye on will still be there in 3-5 days

 

[Aussie_flyer]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Three i think, december is a possibility

It's nice to be RIGHT!!

On this Christmas, buy miles and get twice as much!

On this Christmas, we want you to enjoy twice as much, therefore, for each package of 1,000 miles you buy, LifeMiles will give you a bonus of 100 % more that can be redeemed to fly on routes operated by Avianca, TACA, AeroGal, partner airlines or Star Alliance member airlines. Also, you can enjoy your LifeMiles with the programs’ vast partner network or through our LifeMiles Catalog where you can get the best Christmas gifts like technology and personal use items, home appliances and toys among others.
You can access this promotion through our Call Center, LifeMiles.com or at Avianca and TACA’s Information Centers (except in Colombia).

[h=3]Terms and Conditions[/h]

• This promotion is available between December 3[SUP]rd[/SUP], and December 28[SUP]th[/SUP], 2012, as the last date of purchase.
• This promotion is available through Avianca and TACA’s Call Centers, LifeMiles.com and Avianca and TACA’s Information Centers, except Colombia where is available only through the Call Center and LifeMiles.com and Venezuela where is available only through the Call Center
• Maximum miles to buy: 75,000
• Minimum of miles to buy: 1,000
• Maximum miles to buy during a calendar year: 150,000
• Miles must be purchased in multiples of 1,000
• Maximum number of transactions: 1
• Does not apply to the Flexible Redemption (miles + money) payment option.
• The amount for purchase of miles is not refundable
• Each package of 1,000 miles cost UDS 30 plus local taxes
• For Peru residents: each package of 1,000 miles, costs USD 35.4 / S/.91.3. Exchange rate to November 1st, 2012: S/. 2.58. per USD 1
• For residents in Colombia, the values have to be paid with the Alaico rate from the day of the ticket purchase
• Form of payment through Call Center and LifeMiles.com: credit card or international debit card. Cash payments are only allowed at Avianca or TACA’s Information Centers

[h=3]Other conditions[/h]

• Applies only to members enrolled in the program prior to December 3[SUP]rd[/SUP], 2012
• Administrative fees apply to redeem tickets
• The miles purchase transaction receipt will show the total of miles credited to the customer’s account, including bonus, and the total amount charged for the transaction
• The miles bought and earned with this promotion do not apply to achieve Elite status
• The amount paid for the miles’ purchase is not refundable
• The miles are not endorsable
• The miles are not refundable
• Redeemed tickets (obtained by accumulation, purchase o mile transfer) have no commercial value and can’t be sold to a third party. If the sold of the ticket is proved, the award ticket becomes invalid and cannot be used for transportation. The member’s account will be eliminated
• Remember that for the redemption product Seat Sale and Limited Seats the seats might not be available in all flights and/or dates. The product All Seats are always available, you can see the amount of miles required for this product in LifeMiles.com or in your nearest Avianca or TACA Information Centers
• This promotion does not apply to fly on TAM Airlines
• LifeMiles Terms and Conditions apply

 

[RB]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

It's nice to be RIGHT!!

I thought $30+ per 1,000 was the usual cost?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I thought $30+ per 1,000 was the usual cost?

it is, but they give you a bonus 1000 miles, so reduces the effective cost to $15 per 1000.

 

[RB]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

it is, but they give you a bonus 1000 miles, so reduces the effective cost to $15 per 1000.

Sorry missed the top line in quote in the post by dazz81

 

[ermen]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Anyone with experience callin the call centre and trying to build an itinerary (not complex for the sake of being complex)?

Trying to build PER - IAH but lifemiles.com doesn't seem to be giving any availability for next year. But I'm able to piece my own one via ANA tool a la US Dividend Miles...

 

[smit0847]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Anyone with experience callin the call centre and trying to build an itinerary (not complex for the sake of being complex)?

Trying to build PER - IAH but lifemiles.com doesn't seem to be giving any availability for next year. But I'm able to piece my own one via ANA tool a la US Dividend Miles...

If you cant see if on the LM website they cant book it when you call up. You need to use USDM, and even then, coming from PER you would need to do something like PER-BKK-ICN-LAX/IAH to get across the Pacific which may well be over the MPM allowed.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

If you cant see if on the LM website they cant book it when you call up. You need to use USDM, and even then, coming from PER you would need to do something like PER-BKK-ICN-LAX/IAH to get across the Pacific which may well be over the MPM allowed.

There are reports around that it CAN be done actually. Apparently more luck with TACA call centre, and asking for it piece by piece without mentioning the final destination initially.

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

If you cant see if on the LM website they cant book it when you call up. You need to use USDM, and even then, coming from PER you would need to do something like PER-BKK-ICN-LAX/IAH to get across the Pacific which may well be over the MPM allowed.

PER has generous MPMs to the US...even that would be 3000+ miles under 25M.

 

[travelislife]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

If you cant see if on the LM website they cant book it when you call up. You need to use USDM, and even then, coming from PER you would need to do something like PER-BKK-ICN-LAX/IAH to get across the Pacific which may well be over the MPM allowed.

This is incorrect, it most definitely can be done. I have done it and reported my experience both on here and FT. It may not be easy though and can be luck of the draw with the agents. Definitely easier with USDM. But saying it cant be done is incorrect.

 

[robcuk]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Morning guys - Just some more experiences with Lifemiles for you.

Cancelled my award booking with Lifemiles on Sat arvo, miles were back in the account this morning. I had been a little worried as the booking was still showing as
confirmed on Monday morning but obviously all sorted overnight.

I had brought some more miles last night in the Xmas special offer just incase the miles took some time to show up in my account - typical 12 hours later they are there!! Still 170k in the account waiting to be burned.

Once I had brought the required 68k I booked 2 one way flights from ZRH via PVG to SYD on the 4.1.2013 Looking forward to
Swiss business and 24 hours in Zurich before we leave. Im on the CA a330 - does anyone know if they the new CA business product? We have 8 hours in Shanghai so will take the bullet train into the city for a look round - the city looked pretty cool in Skyfall

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Once I had brought the required 68k I booked 2 one way flights from ZRH via PVG to SYD on the 4.1.2013 Looking forward to
Swiss business and 24 hours in Zurich before we leave. Im on the CA a330 - does anyone know if they the new CA business product? We have 8 hours in Shanghai so will take the bullet train into the city for a look round - the city looked pretty cool in Skyfall

Yes it has a decent business product. Don't think it's exactly the same as their 77Ws but full lie flat nonetheless. Soft product may be another story but I've just booked it myself.

Regarding your 8 hour stopover. The Maglev only goes half way to the city and drops you in what seems like the middle of nowhere at Longyang Road. From here you can take a subway or taxi ride into where you need to go for your look around. Our taxi from there to the Westin Bund Center took about 45 mins at 6PM on a Friday...cost next to nothing, about $6-7. If you want an amazing view of Pudong (as close as you'll get to the Skyfall shots!) get the taxi to Hyatt on the Bund. You can pay 100RMB to get up to the rooftop bar which includes a glass of wine or a beer...the view is amazing...but probably better at night. Then you could have the obligatory traipse along the Bund.

EDIT: Scratch that advice on the Hyatt - seems it'll be closed when you're there...doesn't open til 530pm.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Yes it has a decent business product. Don't think it's exactly the same as their 77Ws but full lie flat nonetheless. Soft product may be another story but I've just booked it myself.

have all their A330s been converted yet? I know they said something like '2013' so maybe some roulette still? Or are they full flats dedicated to SYD?

 

[robcuk]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Yes it has a decent business product. Don't think it's exactly the same as their 77Ws but full lie flat nonetheless. Soft product may be another story but I've just booked it myself.

Regarding your 8 hour stopover. The Maglev only goes half way to the city and drops you in what seems like the middle of nowhere at Longyang Road. From here you can take a subway or taxi ride into where you need to go for your look around. Our taxi from there to the Westin Bund Center took about 45 mins at 6PM on a Friday...cost next to nothing, about $6-7. If you want an amazing view of Pudong (as close as you'll get to the Skyfall shots!) get the taxi to Hyatt on the Bund. You can pay 100RMB to get up to the rooftop bar which includes a glass of wine or a beer...the view is amazing...but probably better at night. Then you could have the obligatory traipse along the Bund.

Sounds like a plan BC! Just had a look at the map and see what you mean about the transfer on the maglev. Our flight is at 19:35 what kind of time would you leave the city? 5ish? Wonder what time it gets dark that time of year?!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Sounds like a plan BC! Just had a look at the map and see what you mean about the transfer on the maglev. Our flight is at 19:35 what kind of time would you leave the city? 5ish? Wonder what time it gets dark that time of year?!

4th of January? It will get dark pretty early - around 4.30-5. It was already darkish by 5pm just last week. And it will be very cold.

You need to allow about 1 hour to reach PVG from the city if you are taking the metro and maglev. It can be done much quicker if the stars align - I did it in 36 minutes last week using taxi and then maglev - but I arrived just in time to buy a ticket and board the train (this was leaving at 4pm). Going the other way, missing a train and having to wait 20 minutes for the next one took me an hour and a bit to do the same journey. If your flight is at 7.35pm, I would be leaving the city no later than 5.00pm (traffic will be bad at that time, so take the metro). That would get you there by 6.

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

have all their A330s been converted yet? I know they said something like '2013' so maybe some roulette still? Or are they full flats dedicated to SYD?

Any seat map I see for MEL always shows C30 (5 rows)...I thought the previous angled lie flat was C36 (6 rows)?

 

[anat0l]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I've been a LM member for a couple of weeks, but I didn't receive the email for the latest buy up promotion.

Are these targeted promos, i.e. do I need to receive the email? I suppose I could try a dummy buy, but sometimes these buy promos aren't like USDM where you see at purchase time the bonus points you're getting - sometimes you just see the base points without promo, then the bonus points gets applied later.

After that, I just have to decide how many miles to purchase, 'cos will the AA buy promo as well, I don't have the budget to spend >$4000 on bargain basement miles in two programs.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AustFreqFly mobile app

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I've been a LM member for a couple of weeks, but I didn't receive the email for the latest buy up promotion.

Are these targeted promos, i.e. do I need to receive the email? I suppose I could try a dummy buy, but sometimes these buy promos aren't like USDM where you see at purchase time the bonus points you're getting - sometimes you just see the base points without promo, then the bonus points gets applied later.

After that, I just have to decide how many miles to purchase, 'cos will the AA buy promo as well, I don't have the budget to spend >$4000 on bargain basement miles in two programs.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AustFreqFly mobile app

With LM you type in the number of miles you want to buy...when you go to the next screen the number of miles will have miraculously doubled but the price is as per the original amount. The promo isn't targeted...you just had to be a member on 3rd Dec.

 

[robcuk]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Any seat map I see for MEL always shows C30 (5 rows)...I thought the previous angled lie flat was C36 (6 rows)?

Is it the c30 for SYD? Are you using Expertflyer for the seat map?